Steak with Dairy-Free Peppercorn Sauce

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Juicy rib eye steak is seasoned and seared before serving with the creamiest gluten-free Dairy-Free Peppercorn Sauce. This is a really special dinner for 2 which takes under 10 minutes from start to finish.

this recipe

Friday has always been the day I work. It’s the only day when I have childcare for both children and I need to cram a lot in. Cake orders, recipe testing for the blog, photography, writing up posts, scheduling social media, emails and admin. It’s jam packed and I have to admit I get a little tetchy.

So when it’s all done and dusted the last thing I feel like doing is messing around trying to sort out dinner. The children eat at nursery so I only have to worry about Luke and myself. Still it’s a chore. Well, maybe not so much anymore since I designated Friday night Steak Night!

Steak is so easy to cook at home when it’s just the two of you. It takes under 10 minutes, and always feels special. The perfect end to a busy day and busy week.

Why dairy-free peppercorn sauce?

I try not to eat too much dairy in my meals at home but I was looking for a creamy steak sauce to replace Luke’s favourite peppercorn sauce.

To be honest I’m not quite sure what made me develop the recipe in this way but oh my goodness I hit the jackpot. This dairy-free peppercorn sauce is ev-er-y-th-i-ng and you wouldn’t expect how it was made at all.

How to make dairy-free peppercorn sauce?

Will you think this is weird? I don’t know but the two ingredients which make this sauce so incredible are:

• Almond butter
• Almond milk

Don’t be scared or worry that it will taste too strong. This combo creates a perfectly creamy luxurious sauce and you would have no idea that it was made from almonds. At all. Believe me, it’s been tested with so many house guests and family members and no one suspects it isn’t actually made from dairy cream.

So, how do we do it?

1. Heat a cast iron pan then add olive oil.
2. Season the steaks, add to the pan and cook for 2 minutes each side. Remove the steaks to rest.
3. Cook the diced onion in the same pan for 2 minutes.
4. De-glaze with the vermouth.
5. Add the almond milk, almond butter and stir.
6. Pour in the peppercorns, extra pepper and cook for another minute until the sauce has thickened slightly.
7. Serve the sauce over the steak.

It’s that easy and I tell no lie, it’s that good.

What to serve with Steak and Dairy-Free Peppercorn Sauce?

I usually serve it with a large green salad. However I would be remiss if I didn’t say that for special occasions we usually cook up a huge batch of homemade oven chips.

It’s also good with mashed potato and steamed tenderstem broccoli.

What else could you serve dairy-free peppercorn sauce with?

The sauce is incredibly versatile. In it’s original form you can serve it with:

• Roasted Cauliflower Steaks
• Braised Leeks
• Roast Chicken

However, if you remove the peppercorns, add crushed fresh garlic and thyme suddenly you have a Creamy Garlic and Thyme Sauce.

Swap the peppercorns for paprika and garlic. You can have Creamy Paprika Chicken.

If you need a rich creamy sauce then almond milk and almond butter are you go-tos from now on.

Is dairy-free peppercorn sauce whole30?

Yes, except the vermouth. You can de-glaze the pan with a splash of chardonnay wine vinegar or with water instead.

Cook’s Notes

• You can use any cut of steak. This recipe uses a 1 inch thick cut of rib eye steak and cooks the steak for 2 minutes each side for a medium rare steak.
• Make sure the pan is hot before adding the cooking fat so you can ensure the temperature is exactly right so your steaks cook correctly.
• Season the steaks directly before adding to the pan so the salt doesn’t have a chance to draw moisture out of the meat.
• Don’t have vermouth? Use marsala or brandy.
• Homemade almond milk and almond butter are my preferred for the creamiest tastiest sauce. However, if you don’t have any then shop bought is absolutely fine.
• Green peppercorns have a milder taste than black peppercorns. Use whichever you prefer. Or more than suggested below if you like things really spicy.
• The sauce will thicken if rested. If it’s starting to become too thick then simply whisk in more almond milk.

Need more dairy-free Friday night dinners? Why not try:

The Best Gluten-Free Chicken Schnitzel
Sriracha Honey Beef Stir-Fry
Gluten-Free Fish and Chips
Lemon, Honey and Sesame Chicken

I cannot wait to hear what you think about this Steak with Dairy-Free Peppercorn Sauce recipe. Is your life as revolutionised as mine?

If you make Steak with Dairy-Free Peppercorn Sauce then please leave a comment below and/or give the recipe a rating. If you then go on to use this recipe as a launch pad for your own baking creation then I’d also love it if you’d share it and tag me on Instagram. It is so lovely for me to see your versions and variations of my recipes.

Steak with Dairy-Free Peppercorn Sauce

Georgina Hartley

Juicy rib eye steak is seasoned and seared
before serving with the creamiest gluten-free Dairy-Free Peppercorn Sauce.

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine British

Servings 2 people

Calories 670 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 rib eye steaks - 1 inch thick cut
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil - see notes below
• ▢ 1 small onion - diced (about 80-100g chopped onion)
• ▢ 2 tablespoons vermouth
• ▢ 150 ml almond milk
• ▢ 30 g almond butter
• ▢ 1 teaspoon green peppercorns
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

 

• Heat a cast iron or sauté pan on high until smoking.
• Turn the heat down to low and add olive oil.
• Rub the steaks with salt and pepper then immediately place both into the pan.
• Cook the steaks for 2 minutes on each side.
• Remove the steaks from the pan (do not turn off the heaand leave them to rest on a board whilst you prepare the sauce.
• Add the diced onion to the pan and cook on a low heat for 2-3 minutes.
• De-glaze the pan with the vermouth which will sizzle up.
• Pour in the almond milk directly followed by the almond butter and whisk together until combined.
• Add the freshly ground black pepper and green peppercorns and whisk up for about a minute. The sauce should thicken to a cream-like consistency.
• Place the steaks on two plates then immediately pour the sauce over the steaks and serve.

Notes

Cooking fat: For a true dairy-free recipe use either olive oil or unrefined coconut oil. However, I usually use ghee which is an approved Whole30 option.

Steak: Rib eye is my preferred cut of steak but of course you can serve the dairy-free peppercorn sauce with any cut of your choosing. Rib-eye steak is best served medium - medium rare so the fat has more of a chance to melt into the meat.

Whole30 option: Remove the vermouth and either replace with chardonnay wine vinegar or just water.

Don’t have any vermouth? Then swap in brandy or marsala.

Too thick? If your peppercorn sauce seems too thick then you’ve just cooked the sauce a little longer than necessary. Just thin it out with a little more almond milk.

Peppercorns: If you only have black peppercorns then absolutely use those, although they will have a stronger taste.

Serving suggestion: Homemade oven chips and a large green salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 670kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 50gFat: 48gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 138mgSodium: 415mgPotassium: 798mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 35IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 170mgIron: 4.5mg

Have you tried this recipe?Head to the comment section and let me know what you think!